A severe storm that swept through southern Alberta on August 20, 2025, has left a significant mark on the landscape, creating a "hail scar" visible from space. Wind gusts reaching 150 kilometers per hour devastated crops and stripped away grass and ground cover across a wide area. The storm's path extended from south of Calgary to Saskatchewan, impacting approximately 425,000 acres of insurable crops, as well as pasture and native grassland.

The most intense part of the storm created a visible scar that can be seen in satellite images from NASA. This scar measures about 15 kilometers wide and stretches 200 kilometers long, starting near Vulcan and showing the worst damage north of Brooks. In this area, many property owners and agricultural producers experienced severe destruction, with home siding ripped off and corn stalks broken in half. Irrigation systems were overturned, and asphalt shingles were stripped bare.

Researchers from the Northern Hail Project at Western University assessed the storm's impact and reported that the damage was among the worst they have documented. They noted that in a 22-kilometer stretch north of Brooks, crop damage was total, with grain crops flattened and corn reduced to mostly bare stalks. Grasslands were also severely affected, with root systems exposed and native shrubs stripped of their bark.

Cleanup efforts began shortly after the storm, with local volunteers, including members of Mennonite church congregations, helping to clear debris from yards and farms. Gerald Torkelson, a local farmer and landscape company owner, described the scene, saying, "I've seen a lot of hail damage over the years, but I've never seen anything like that. My yard looks like the moon."

As farmers await insurance assessments, they are working to harvest any crops that survived the storm. Those crops that were heavily damaged will either be plowed under or used as livestock feed. The storm's impact on ranchers is also significant, as the wind flattened grass and exposed root systems on grazing leases, potentially reducing grazing capacity for several years.

George Kueber, a provincial adjusting manager with Agriculture Financial Services Corporation, stated, "This is a large, large storm with lots of claims. At this time of year when the crops are at mature stage, the losses are devastating."

Meteorologist Simon Eng from the Northern Hail Project noted that while crops and vegetation can recover relatively quickly, the timing of the storm in the growing season is crucial. He referenced a previous storm in southern Saskatchewan that allowed for some regrowth by early fall, but emphasized that the damage from the recent Alberta storm was more severe.

Barry Adams, a retired rangeland agrologist, highlighted the long-term effects of such localized damage, stating that ranchers need to manage their pastures carefully to encourage regrowth. He explained that the storm could have lasting impacts on soil conditions, which are vital for maintaining healthy grasslands.

As the community begins to recover, many farmers and ranchers face a challenging road ahead, with some describing their fields as looking like "a parking lot" after the storm. The loss of crops and pastureland is particularly hard to bear after a promising growing season.